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Princess Cruise’s one-day Alaskan shore excursions appeal to adventure seekers who want a up-close look at the state’s natural wonders. The excursions provide for leisurely exploration of towns and villages, and they include educational offerings for the curious. The Cruise personalization tool, available on the Princess Website, makes it easy for travelers to choose and book excursions from a large selection of on-shore offerings.

Museums

A tour of Kodiak includes stops at the Baranov Museum, where Russian, Native American and American history are on display, and at the Alutiiq Museum for an in-depth look at Alaskan native culture. The Totem Heritage Center is a stop on the Potlatch Park and Heritage Tour. Massive cedar totem poles, recovered from abandoned villages, are on display. The Cooper Landing Historical Society Museum displays artifacts, including the skeleton of a brown bear, significant to the region. The museum is part of the Kenai Peninsula Excursion.

Wildlife

The Remote Wildlife and Bear Search excursion includes a short hike to viewing platforms over the Spasski River valley, a prime area for bear viewing. Whale sightings are guaranteed on the Whale and Wildlife cruise. Steller sea lions, bald eagles and harbor seals are also commonly spotted. The largest fish ladder in Alaska is on view on the Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Hatchery tour. After a tour of the hatchery, passengers head to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center.

Cities

The Anchorage on Your Own excursion includes a bus ride into the city, and then almost four hours of unstructured sightseeing. Underground Juneau Gold tours include a trip underground at what was the world’s largest gold mine. Another Juneau tour begins in town, includes an aerial tram ride and finishes with a ¾ mile wildlife hike. A 25-mile tour of Ketchikan’s busy waterfront and former red light district includes a stop at Totem Bright State Park, where totem poles are on display.

Adventure

The Kayaking in Prince William Sound excursion, for passengers spending the night in Anchorage before or after the cruise, includes a safety class and a guided paddle around the Sound. Cyclists pedal eight miles on the Glacial Fjord Bicycle Tour where wildlife abounds. Close-up views of a glacier are the highlight of the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari. A catamaran ride, followed by a canoe trip to Davidson Glacier, includes a short hike over rough terrain. Passengers take a minute and a half trip down a zipline at speeds up to 60 miles per hour on the Ziprider Adventure. Dog Sled Summer Camp excursions begin with a tour of a musher’s camp and end with a dog sled ride.

Cultural and Scientific

The Chilkat Cultural Tour starts with a scenic drive to the village of Klukwan. Native Americans at the cultural center perform traditional dances, provide tours of a Long House and demonstrate how meat and fish are preserved. Naturalists lead tours through wildlife habitats around Haines to gather data on eagle nesting on the Eco-Research Adventure. The Hoonah Sightseeing and Tribal Dance combination tour includes a motor coach ride through Alaska’s largest Tlingit village, followed by a performance by the Huna Tlingit.

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About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.

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